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Abstract:

The article considers the reception of Bryusov’s short story First Love in N. Petrovskaya’s collection of stories Sanctus Amor. The writer’s creative dialogue with Bryusov within the framework of the epistolary and critical articles became the subject of interest of other researchers, but the possible influence of his poetic and prose texts (not only the novel The Fiery Angel) on Petrovskaya’s book requires a more detailed study. The article attempts to trace the origins of the image of the infernal female figure in Sanctus Amor, to describe its transformation and its polemic character in relation to Bryusov’s philosophical and aesthetic views. The plot situation of the captivity of the male character by the infernal heroine is analyzed at several levels. The significance of nature for both authors and its connection with the femininity are considered. The symbolic content of night and morning is revealed in a similar way. There are two motives accompanying the infernal female figure: the motive of illusory nature and the motive of slavery. Particular attention is drawn to the hero of the creator type, which is absent from Petrovskaya’s book, but is extremely important for Bryusov and his ideas of life-creation. Each of the elements is evaluated from the standpoint of similarities and differences that arise in the process of reception.